Automatic opening and closing container



March 27, 1951 I J, YERKEs 2,546,915

AUTOMATIC OPENING AND CLOSING CONTAINER Filed Nov. 13 1946 3Sheets-Sheet 1 .0 (@gioil.

INVENTOR JOHN A.YRKE5 ATTORNEYS March 27, 1951 J, R S 2,546,915

AUTOMATIC OPENING AND CLOSING CONTAINER Filed Nov. 15, 1946 3Sheets-Sheet 2 lNVENTOR JOHN A. YER/ 55 ATTORNEYS March 27, 1951 J. A.YERKES AUTOMATIC OPENING AND CLOSING CONTAINER 3 Sheets-Sheet 3 FiledNov. 13 1946 INVENTOR JOHN A. YERKES ATTORNEYS Patented Mar. 27, 1951AUTOMATIC OPENING AND CLOSING CONTAINER John A. Yerkes, New York, N. Y.Application November 13, 1946, Serial No. 709,443

8 Claims.

This invention relates to containers and particularly those of the typeadapted to hold cigarettes or similar articles. It is desirable to keepsome articles, such as cigarettes, in a container with a lid thereon andto be able to open said lid automatically.

One of the objects of the invention is to provide a container whereinthe lid is closed when held in one position and is automatically openedas the container is turned or inverted, the opening and closing actionbeing arranged so that articles will not be expelled unintentionallyfrom the container during the turning operation.

Another object of the invention is to provide a container which willautomatically open and close in a foolproof manner when the container isfull and also when only partly full.

Still another object of the invention is to provide a mechanism which issturdy, light in weight, and inexpensive to manufacture. In previousdevices, complicated arrangements of springs and weights have beenemployed which are not required in the present invention.

Other objects, features, and advantages will become apparentfrom thefollowing description and drawings which are merely exemplary.

In the drawings:

Fig. 1 is a longitudinal vertical sectional view of the device when itis in an upright or open position.

Fig. 2 is a view looking upwardly when the container is in the uprightposition as seen in Fig. 1.

Fig. 3 is a section taken along the line 33 of Fig. 1, the figure beingbroken along the center- Fig. 4 is a longitudinal vertical sectionalview when the container is in an inverted or closed position.

Fig. 5 is a view looking upwardly when the container is in invertedclosed position seen in Fig. 4.

Fig. 6 is a section taken along the line 66 of Fig. 4, the figure beingbroken along the center line.

Fig"? is 'a vertical cross-sectional view taken along the line l-! ofFig. 4.

' Fig. 8 is a detailed sectional View of the weight. dFig. 9 is anisometric View of one of the cover li s.

Fig. 10 is an isometric view of the shield located between the two lids.

Fig. 11 is a side view showing the device as it is being turned on itsend.

Fig. 12 is an end view showing the device as it is being turnedsideways.

example, the receptacle shaped. The straight to receptacle I by In apreferred form of the invention, receptacle 1 may be made of a plasticmaterial, wood, metal, or the like, and has a bottom portion which ispreferably cut away to form a pair of apertures 3, 3 (Figs. 1, 2) andshoulders 4 for the reception of plastic or glass windows 2 so that thecontents such as, for example, cigarettes it can be seen clearly whenthe container is viewedfrom the bottom (Figs. 1, 2).

It is evident that the bottom portion may be solid or may have varioustypes of designs thereon as desired. lhe longitudinally extending walls4| of the receptacle preferably are made straight with rounded ends i2,but, of course, various shaped receptacles may be employed, and, as anmay be rectangularly walls M can be vertically grooved on the inside toform shoulders 5 and recesses $3 interiorly of the longitudinal walls tI, said recesses being adapted to receive a weight housing H, thepurpose of said housing ii being described hereafter.

Shield 8, resting on ledge 5, may be secured any suitable means such asby screws Ii! engaging screw threaded holes iii (Figs. 1, '7, 10).Depending apron & of shield 8 extends downwardly to rest against weighthousing H serving to hold said housing I! against accidentaldisplacement. The shield 8 also serves to concea1 the mechanism.

Weight housing H has four recesses l2 (Fig. 3) to provide space for theoperation of the two pairs of hinges l6 (Figs. 1, 9) having dependingarms l4, said weight housing being nested within the receptacle betweenshoulders 5. Four pivot screws 63 in housing H pass through apertures I5in depending arms It so as to pivotally mount the inges on the weighthousing. The depending arms [4 are joined by bridge I! of the hingethere being a central projecting portion 18 terminating in an arcuateportion 2% and chain hole [9 may be located adjacent the junction ofportions I8 and 20 of the hinge. The hinges in turn may be secured tothe pair of lids 23 in any suitable manner'such as by screws 22 (Figs.6, 9) extending through holes in said hinges. It is evident that ifplastic material is used for the lids that the hinges may be moldedinserts in said lids or that the lids and hinges may be integrall formedof any desired material.

The lids are shaped so as to conform generally to the shape of thereceptacle with the operating or working ends 25 substantially increasedin thickness to assist in the opening action thereof.

The corners 2 3 of said operating ends are bev- \3 elled or shaped so asto provide clearance when the lids swing downwardly within the slopingwalls 26 of the weight housing ii to the position shown in Fig. l. Theweight housing ll preferably is rectangular in exterior shape so as tofit into the receptacle. The bottom of the weight housing may behollowed out to reduce weight such as shown at 28 (Fig. l).

The interior of the housing is provided with sloping walls 25 whichpreferably are conical, but may pyramidal, hemispherical, or a shapehaving the function of the conical walls as discussed hereafter. So asto reduce length, the conical shaped walls are frusto-conical as shownwith an opening 2! near the apex of the cone for economy of width and soas to enable the use of a heavier weight. Cylindrical portion .29 isprovided in the bore of the weight housing H, the cylindrical portion,although not essential, serving to lessen the likelihood of vibrationand undesirable shifting of the weight when the receptacle is turned inoperation thereof.

A pair of cover plates 39 (Figs. 1, l, 6) may be secured to the top ofweight housing l l by screws 32 extending through holes in said coverplates in a conventional manner.

Chain 33 may be made from a length of chain intersecting and joined to asecond length of chain at a point intermediate the ends of said secondchain so that the chain assembly can take a shape similar to that of aninverted T when the receptacle is in the position shown in Fig. 4. Gneend of the chain is fastened to the weight and each of the ends fastenedto one of the lids 23. The branch ends may be threaded through each ofthe chain holes iii (Fig. 9) in the hinges i8 and then a small pin 35inserted for the purpose of holding the chain therein. It is evidentthat the pin and chain also may be soldered to the hinge or otherwisesuitably fastened thereto. The long branch of the chain is passedthrough the bore of weight 36 through a small washer v3 S can have a pin35 inserted through the terminal link and preferably secured bysoldering. It is evident that various equivalent methods or means ofsecuring the chain to the lids and to V the weight may be employed.

Weight 3 5 preferably is conical in form but may be given other suitableshapes which are capable of performing the desired operation of theweight.

The best operation of the device is obtained when the weight conformssubstantially in exterior shape to the shape of the bore of housing Ii.In the embodiment shown, the weight is frusto-conical in exterior formwith a joining cylindrical portion 39, the cylinder being substantiallythe same length as the cylindrical portion 29 of the bore of weighthousing H. The bore 38 of the weight may be enlarged to allow lateralmovement of the chain (Fig. i) the bore preferably flaring out to aconical shape .31. in order to give the desirable weight, a portion .38

of the bore is cylindrical and relatively small in diameter as will heexplained hereafter.

The chain must be of the correct length to allow the requisite lateralmovement of the weight in the weight housing ll. The chain could beel'il iinated by using an alternate'construction wherein the lids 23would have relatively heavy weights at the working ends so that the lidswould be counterbalanced and tend to swing themselves to open positionwhen the container is brought to the upright position of Fig. 1. Alinkage also could be used in place of the chain to cause opening of thelid by the weight. It also is to be understood that a single lidcontainer may be used instead of a double lid.

Describing the operation, when the, container is placed on a table orheld upright (Fig. 1), weight 35 will rest on the bottom of the bore ofweight housing H, lids 23 having been swung to open position by theaction of the weight moving downwardly. The action of the weight istransmitted to the lids by means of chain 33 which swings the lids ontheir hinges it to the position shown in Fig. 1. It is preferable thatthe length of the weight and the conical surface thereof be so relatedto the conical bore of the weight housing that there will not be a tightfit therebetween so that there will be no danger of sticking. This, ofcourse, could also be taken care of by proper lubrication of thesurfaces.

When the container is in the inverted or closed position (Fig. 4) weight36 will rest on the working ends 25 of lids 23' thus holding the lids ina closed position against the action of the-weight of the cigarettestending to open said lidst The top of the container will have theappearance as indicated in Fig. 1. It is important to prevent spillingthe contents of the container as the receptacle is changed from theupright to the in verted position and therefore thelids must closebefore the container has been rotated to the point where gravity willact upon the contents and cause them to spill out. vThis means that theweight actuating the closing of the lids must operate before gravityacts upon the contents to cause them to fall out of the container. Theangle of the walls of the bore and its relation to the normal horizontaland vertical axis of'the container is made such that regardless of thedirection in which the container is rotated in the action of inversion,the weight 3 3 will move under the action of gravity along the slopingwalls as to urge lids 23 to .a closed position. This takes place, in theembodiment shown, before the container has been rotated For this reason,there is no delicate balancing between the Weight of a counterbalanceand a spring and there are no intricate slides or other friction-causingelements necessary, such elements being difiicult to assemble, adjust,and maintain in operating condition. The conical weight shown bears onthe conical bore of the housing so that there is but a single line ofcontact.

Referring to Fig. 11, as the box is tilted endfor end from an upright toan inverted position, the angle of the wall A l relative to the normalvertical axis 4?, is made such that the weight 36'wil1 start itsmovement to the left so as to close-lids 23 before the cigarettes so canslide out of the box. The angle of the wall '34 relative to the Verticalaxis of the box must be such that the angle of repose of the weight, asit rests on wall G4,, is

reached and the weight starts its movement before the contents of thereceptacle can move. The angle of repose, as is well known, is the anglewhich the plane of contact between two bodies makes with the horizontalwhen the upper body is just on the point of sliding. It also issometimes defined as the angle whose tangent is-the coefficient offriction between the bodies. It is thus seen that when the angle ofrepose is reached as the receptacle is turned, a very slight furthermovement or a distur g the equilibrium of the weight will causenovemen-t thereof to the left. Similarly, in Fig. 12, the box is turnedfrom an upright to an inverted position around the axis which islongitudinal of the re-- ceptacle, weight 36 will slide on wall 5 (Fig.12)

, to close the lids 23 thereof before the cigarettes in the box canslide or roll out and be expelled.

It is thus seen that the angle of repose of the weight is reached andpassed before the angle of repose of the contents becomes affected bythe turning. This is achieved by sloping the walls of the housingcontaining the weight and by proportioning and arranging the parts insuch a manner so as to obtain the best possible operation of the device.I

The weight, when in the position shown in Fig. 1, can be arranged sothat there is a pad of felt (not shown) between the end of the weightand the bottom wall 46 of the receptacle so as to as sist in preventingsticking of the weight to the surface 26 after prolonged inactivity. Thefelt also will tend to reduce the noise which might occur when theweight reaches the bottom of the weight housing.

It is to be understood that the details of construction may be varied,and that the receptacle can be used for many purposes and substanceswithout departing from the scope of the invention as defined in theappended claims.

I claim:

1. In a receptacle, an article storing compartment, pivot means on saidreceptacle, a lid mounted on said pivot means, said lid having acompartil ent covering portion on one side of the pivot means and anextension on the opposite side of the pivot means, a weight, a weighthousing having upwardly diverging walls when in upright position, saidextension overlying said housing, and means opening said lid when thereceptacle is in upright position, said weight sliding down saiddiverging walls as the receptacle is rotated toward an invertedposition, said weight engaging said lid on the side of the pivot meansopposite to said opening to close the same.

2. In a receptacle, an article storing compartment, pivot means on saidreceptacle, a lid mounted on said pivot means, said lid having acompartment covering portion on one side of the pivot means and anextension on the opposite side of the pivot means, a weight, a weighthousing having upwardly diverging walls when the receptacle is in anupright position, said extension overlying said housing, and connectingmeans between the weight and said lid extension, said connecting meansbeing of a length such that the weight pulls on said lid extension toopen said lid when the receptacle is in upright position and the weighthas moved toward the bottom of said weight housing, said weight slidingdown the diverging walls by gravity as the receptacle is rotatedmanually toward an inverted position, said weight engaging and pressingon the lid extension causing said lid to close said compartment when thereceptacle is in inverted position.

3. In. a receptacle, an article storing compartment, a hinged lid pivotmeans on said receptacle, a lid mounted on said pivot means, said lidhaving a compartment covering portion on one side of the pivot means andan extension on the opposite side of the pivot means, a weight, a weighthousing having upwardly diverging walls when said receptacle is inupright position, said extension overlying a portion of said weighthousing, and flexible means connecting said extension with the weightand holding the lid in open position. when the receptacle is in uprightposition, said weight sliding down said diverging walls as thereceptacle is inverted to- 6, ward an inverted position, said weightengagings'aid lid extension, so-as to close the same.

4. In a receptacle," an article storing compartment, pivlot' means onsaid receptacle, a lid mounted on said pivot means, said lid having acompartment covering portion on one side of the pivot means and anextension on the opposite side of said pivot means, a conical shapedweight engageable with said lid to close the same,

a conical shaped weight housing having a bore with upwardly divergingwalls when in upright position, said bore being of greater length thanthe weight, said extension overlying said housing, and means openingsaid lid when the receptacle is in an upright position, said weightsliding down said diverging walls by gravity as the receptacle isrotated in any direction toward an inverted position and engagingsaidlid extension and closing the same.

5. In a receptacle, an article storing compartmerit, pivot means on saidreceptacle, a lid mounted on said pivot means, said lid having acompartment covering portion on one side of the pivot means and anextension on the opposite side of said pivot means, a conical weightengageable with said lid to close the same, a weight housing having abore with conical upwardly diverging walls when in upright position,said extension overlying said housing, and flexible means connected tosaid weight and holding said lid in open position when the receptacle isin an upright position, said weight sliding down said diverging walls bygravity as the receptacle is rotated in any direction toward an invertedposition and engaging said extension or the lid and closing the same.

6. In a receptacle, a pair of article storing compartments, a pair ofpivots on said receptacle, a pair of lids each mounted on one of saidpivots, each of said lids having compartment covering portions on oneside of its pivot and having an operating extension on the other sidefaweight, a weight housing having upwardly diverging walls when thereceptacle is in upright position, said lid extensions overlying saidhousing, and means opening said lids when the rece tacle is in uprightposition, said weight being slidable by gravitv along said divergingwalls as the recentacle is inverted in. any direction until the weightvcontacts said extensions and closes said lids.

7.111 a receptacle, a pair of article storing compartments, a pair ofpivots on said receptacle, a pair of lids each mounted on one of saidpivots, each of said lids having compartment covering portions on oneside of its pivot and having onerating extensions on the other side, aweight, a weight housing having upwardly diverging walls when thereceptacle is in upright position, said lid extensions overlying saidhousing, and flexible connecting means between said weight and saidextensions opening said lids when the rece tacle is in upright position,said weight being siidable by gravity along said diverging walls as thereceptacle is inverted in any direction until the weight contacts saidextensions and closes said lids.

8. In a receptacle, an article storing compartment, a pivot means onsaid receptacle, a lid mounted on said pivot means, said lid having acompartment covering portion on one side of the pivot and an extensionon the opposite side of the pivot, a weight, a weight housing havingupwardly diverging walls when the receptacle is in upright position,said walls defining a bore facing said extension, the angle of slope ofsaid walls being of sueh ma nitude that when the .zlveeeptecle is 7REFERENCES .QHED manually following references are record will m v al nsaid well y gra ity t en a filgf this patent: said ,lid extensiq ndclose 1 b ,;$3' mefi 5 he'8- V cfiptacle is rotated toward a honizontalpesjftjgn 5 UNITED STATES PATENTS so that articles will notspill-fromsaid compart- Number Name Date ment, and means connected tosaid lid extension 1,486,439 Kla-ges Mar. 11,1924 holding said lid inepen positiqn when the re- 1,573,938 Henrietta Feb. 23,1926 eeptaele isupright and the weight is away from 1,914,250 Gillen June 13, 1933 saidlid extension. 10 1,994,218 Hiering Mar. 12, 1935 2,316,979 Shipley Apr.20,1943

JOHN A. YERK 2,391,453 Goldbert Dec. 25, 1945

